Pops went white.“What?” He turned to Ryan. “Son—”
Ryan didn’t know what to say. A part of him was relieved someone knew. He hated how dirty it made him feel. On the other hand, everyone was staring at him and—
Their hold on Mom loosened and she pounced on Eliza again, banging her head into the wall. Uncle Christopher, Mortician, and Cash ignored thebets the bikers were placing and managed to pull Mom away.
Eliza slid to the floor, unconscious.
Mom fell against Uncle Christopher and sobbed so pitifully, Ryan wanted to hide or hug her or tell her he was sorry.
“She forced her pussy on you, son?” Pops asked in a ragged voice.
Over the weeks, Ryan had learned a lot about his father. Mainly, that he used his fists as a last resort and that he wasn’t as much of a wimp as Ryan believed.
“There’re pictures, Val,” Mom cried. “Christy…” She hiccupped. “I didn’t want you to see them. I know what you went through—”
CJ and Ryan exchanged glances. What the fuck had happened?
“Puff.” Pops’s voice drew Ryan’s attention again. “What happened to me…” He glanced away. “It can’t compare to what you suffered.” His voice was thick. “I love you. Always have and always will, til I draw my last. It don’t matter how bad shit is. My job is protecting you and our boys.”
She clung to Uncle Christopher and he whispered to her.
“I love you even fucking more for trying to protect me, Zoann,” Pops said.
“Outlaw!” Nyx suddenly wailed. “My party’s ruined. Make the old ladies leave, so we can get to the fun.”
“Shut the fuck up before I cancel your motherfuckin’ party,” Uncle Christopher snapped.
“I invited Eliza. My guests should go unmolested.”
“You need fucking up, too,” Mom spat.
“Eliza’s my friend,” Nyx said coldly. “This ismyinitiation. I was told to invite whoever I wish. I didn’t inviteyou, so leave. Your jobis done.”
Mom forgot her despair and moved like lightning, kicking the platform with Nyx’s litter several times before it tipped over. As it collapsed, Mom snatched Nyx by the hair and they disappeared from view in a tangle of fists and legs until Pops, Uncle Christopher, Mortician, and Cash dragged Mom away.
Nyx stumbled to her feet, her mouth and nose bloody. Mascara blackened her tears. “Outlaw—”
“Shut the fuck up, Nyx,” Uncle Christopher ordered. “You got some fuckin’ explainin’ to do. How the fuck you invited the fuckin’ old lady of a Gnome?”
“Eliza’s been showing up wherever me and some of the girls were for the past six months,” Nyx said faintly.
The seriousness of the situation finally seemed to dawn on her.
“In December, she suggested we have lunch together every so often. Last week, I was talking about my initiation and she asked for an invitation.”
Eliza moaned, interrupting Uncle Christopher’s contemplation of Nyx.
“Chester, baby, I got to teach you how to bash a motherfucker so they in a coma,” Mortician said.
Pops walked to Eliza and watched as she staggered to her feet.
Uncle Christopher stepped toward Nyx, but Pops shook his head and nodded at Mom. Uncle Christopher took her in his arms again, while Pops drew his fucking.357 Magnum, shoved the muzzle against Eliza’s forehead and pulled the trigger.
Some of the girls screamed while blood and brain matter sprayed on Nyx, who hollered and stumbled back. As Pops took Mom into his arms, Uncle Christopher crooked his finger at Nyx. Sobbing, she staggered to him.
“See that dead cunt? That’s gonna beyourmotherfuckin’ ass if I find out your fuckin’ over theclub—”
“I’m not,” she cried. “I swear. I didn’t know Eliza…I thought the Dwellers didn’t k-kill women—”
